Synthesis of polydiacetylene charge-transfer complexes

Like 1,4-bis(3-quinolyl)buta-1,3-diyne, its structural isomer, 1,4-bis(4-is oquinolyl)buta-1,3-diyne, undergoes both photo- and thermal polymerization, Thermal polymerization of each material leads to more amorphous, less ther mally stable polymers than are observed in the respective photopolymerizati on. The diacetylenes are found to react with certain organoiodines to give N-I charge-transfer complexes. Thermolysis of the complexes evolves the org anoiodine species prior to polymerization of the diacetylene. Thr complexes fail to polymerize upon photolysis.